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Leaders oppose sales tax for school security

City remains committed to using retired officers

Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 5:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 10:52 p.m.

Mayor Sherman Guyton said he is opposed to a proposed 1 percent sales tax increase for school security, and that Gadsden will use existing revenues to fund certified security personnel at city schools that don't have school resource officers.

Guyton at Tuesday's City Council meeting said the city is working on a plan to use retired police officers and other retired state, local and federal law enforcement officers to work at the schools.

Those officers could work part time and would not work when school is not in session, Guyton said, adding the city already has retired officers who work at the front door of City Hall and staff a metal detector.

The School Safety and Security Committee of Etowah County, named by Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, plans to ask the Etowah County Commission either to assess a 1 percent sales tax or call for a referendum to let the people vote for a property tax increase or other funding measures to pay for school security.

The school security would include costs for school resource officers, security and training for administrators and teachers, door locks, cameras, fencing and renovations that would make the schools safer.

A different committee — the Etowah County School Safety Task Force — made up of elected officials and superintendents, also has recommended each school in the county have a certified school resource officer, video and audio surveillance equipment and communication capabilities to ensure immediate access to first responders. They did not recommend a specific funding source.

The county's three public school boards plan to endorse the recommendation of both committees.

Guyton said the city's plan would require legislative action to exempt the officers from passing the physical requirements for certified officers. He said the officers would have to be weapon recertified.

The city has three SROs, Guyton said, and personnel would be needed at about 10 city schools.

“As far as the council and myself are concerned, we're not raising any taxes,” Guyton said. “We pay enough taxes already. You've got to learn to live with what you've got, and we can do that.”

Other council members signaled opposition to a tax increase, which could be imposed by the County Commission, and said they supported Guyton's proposal.

Guyton said he has been working with Police Chief John Crane on the city's plan and asked retired officers interested in the program to contact the chief.

He said work on the issue continues in-house, but “if we get some money out of Washington or Montgomery, that would be even greater.”

Councilman Bill Stewart said having a police officer at a school is a good idea and that Guyton's proposal could be accomplished with existing revenues.

“We don't need another penny sales tax,” he said. “We have adequate money to do this. It's important we do this.”

Councilman Billy Harris said something should be done to help protect children at schools.

“My thing (is), it should come from the top down, because Gadsden itself is not the only corporate city that's going to be involved in trying to protect kids,” Harris said. “It's going to be nationwide.”

Harris said funds coming from the federal government should be designated not only for officers, but other security improvements.

Etowah County Commissioner Carolyn Parker attended the council work session where the school security issue was discussed. She said she opposes a tax increase, and that while she couldn't speak for other commissioners, her sense from talking with them is they don't want to impose a tax without a referendum, even if they have the authority to do so.

Parker said other revenue streams should be looked at. She said she and other commissioners have gotten a number of emails opposing the tax.

<p>Mayor Sherman Guyton said he is opposed to a proposed 1 percent sales tax increase for school security, and that Gadsden will use existing revenues to fund certified security personnel at city schools that don't have school resource officers.</p><p>Guyton at Tuesday's City Council meeting said the city is working on a plan to use retired police officers and other retired state, local and federal law enforcement officers to work at the schools.</p><p>Those officers could work part time and would not work when school is not in session, Guyton said, adding the city already has retired officers who work at the front door of City Hall and staff a metal detector.</p><p>The School Safety and Security Committee of Etowah County, named by Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, plans to ask the <a href="http://www.gadsdentimes.com/etowahcommisssion"><b>Etowah County Commission</b></a> either to assess a 1 percent sales tax or call for a referendum to let the people vote for a property tax increase or other funding measures to pay for school security.</p><p>The school security would include costs for school resource officers, security and training for administrators and teachers, door locks, cameras, fencing and renovations that would make the schools safer.</p><p>A different committee — the Etowah County School Safety Task Force — made up of elected officials and superintendents, also has recommended each school in the county have a certified school resource officer, video and audio surveillance equipment and communication capabilities to ensure immediate access to first responders. They did not recommend a specific funding source.</p><p>The county's three public school boards plan to endorse the recommendation of both committees.</p><p>Guyton said the city's plan would require legislative action to exempt the officers from passing the physical requirements for certified officers. He said the officers would have to be weapon recertified.</p><p>The city has three SROs, Guyton said, and personnel would be needed at about 10 city schools.</p><p>“As far as the council and myself are concerned, we're not raising any taxes,” Guyton said. “We pay enough taxes already. You've got to learn to live with what you've got, and we can do that.”</p><p>Other council members signaled opposition to a tax increase, which could be imposed by the County Commission, and said they supported Guyton's proposal.</p><p>Guyton said he has been working with Police Chief John Crane on the city's plan and asked retired officers interested in the program to contact the chief.</p><p>He said work on the issue continues in-house, but “if we get some money out of Washington or Montgomery, that would be even greater.”</p><p>Councilman Bill Stewart said having a police officer at a school is a good idea and that Guyton's proposal could be accomplished with existing revenues.</p><p>“We don't need another penny sales tax,” he said. “We have adequate money to do this. It's important we do this.”</p><p>Councilman Billy Harris said something should be done to help protect children at schools.</p><p>“My thing (is), it should come from the top down, because Gadsden itself is not the only corporate city that's going to be involved in trying to protect kids,” Harris said. “It's going to be nationwide.”</p><p>Harris said funds coming from the federal government should be designated not only for officers, but other security improvements.</p><p>Etowah County Commissioner Carolyn Parker attended the council work session where the school security issue was discussed. She said she opposes a tax increase, and that while she couldn't speak for other commissioners, her sense from talking with them is they don't want to impose a tax without a referendum, even if they have the authority to do so.</p><p>Parker said other revenue streams should be looked at. She said she and other commissioners have gotten a number of emails opposing the tax.</p><p>“I haven't had anybody say, 'Yeah, impose a tax on us,” she said.</p>